Manager reaction: Adkins and Powell on Reading's win over Charlton

Royals boss Nigel Adkins saw his move up to fourth with a 1-0 win against Charlton.

Nigel Adkins praised Billy Sharp after the on-loan striker crowned his first start for Reading with the goal that earned a 1-0 home win over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.

Sharp, whose previous three appearances for Royals were as a sub, fired home first time from a yard outside the box after Danny Williams had won a 50-50 challenge and burst forward before passing inside.

A delighted Adkins said: "It was a great goal from Billy Sharp. That was his first start for a long time.

"When he joined us he picked up a groin injury, but he has worked extremely hard on the training ground and he was great."

When asked what the future holds for Sharp, whose loan spell from Southampton expires in January, Royals' boss said: "I don't know. We are just delighted that we have started him.

"Last week was maybe the first opportunity for me to potentially start him.

"He's not played any football at all so credit to him. He's looking in good nick at the moment.

"He came off the bench against Nottingham Forest (in a 3-2 win). And on this occasion he looked lively and bright and he scored an excellent goal.

"We will have to wait and see what happens."

Sharp showed several good touches before coming off for Hal Robson-Kanu midway through the second half.

"We got a good hour out of him," said Adkins. "Hal Robson-Kanu has been playing very well for us. When you look at the way the game was going.

"When he did pick the ball up and break with it you saw what a threat he possessed with it. We had a strong bench of forwards."

Billy Sharp's contribution was praised by boss Nigel Adkins after the striker netted against Charlton.

After looking comfortably in control up until half-time, Royals began to look nervous and edgy - and they badly missed the industry of Williams in midfield when he suffered an injury and was replaced by Hope Akpan in the 62nd minute.

Adkins said: "Danny's been out for 12 weeks recently. He made his first start against Forest where he put in a good shift last Friday for our excellent (3-2) victory.

"He came off with something not quite right in his calf.

"We would like to think he will be all right for (Saturday's game at home to Bournemouth) but until we assess it fully we won't know."

Adkins continued: "We started the game brightly. In the second half Charlton came at us and we had to show another side to our game with our defensive resolve and keeping the ball out of our net.

"It was not a classic from the point of view of passing the football in the second half.

"Over the course of a 46-game season you have to be able to grind out three points if you want to be successful.

"The league table will fluctuate but we just have to stay in the race."

Royals, who climbed to fourth place in the Championship, were indebted to a fine near-post save by Alex McCarthy that prevented Simon Church from equalising against his former club just before half-time.

Charlton boss Chris Powell also felt that his side should have a got a penalty for Stephen Kelly's clumsy first-half challenge on Church.

Powell said: "Things don't go for you when you are lower down. Unluckily for us we did not get a penalty we deserved.

"The ball was not won by their defender."

He added: "The second half started a little bit flat and that suited Reading because when you are ahead you just want to see the game out.

"Towards the end Reading were defending deep and countering on us. They put a lot of bodies on the line and defended well."